Panthers to hold blood drive

Register now for the Keep Pounding Blood Drive at Bank of America Stadium on Thursday, May 1 from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Hosted by the Carolina Panthers and Community Blood Center of the Carolinas, the blood drive will benefit 21 regional hospitals in North and South Carolina. Since 2008, the annual drive has collected almost 600 units of blood, helping to save more than 18,000 lives locally.

Appointments are preferred and can be made by calling Lenora Adams-Tibbs from the Community Blood Center of the Carolinas at 704-972-4733 or by visiting www.carolinadonor.org, clicking on donate and entering the sponsor code Panthers. All participants must present a valid driver license or government issued photo ID upon arrival in order to donate.

"The Community Blood Center of the Carolinas plays an invaluable role in helping area patients, and we are proud to be on their team of supporters," said Riley Fields, the Carolina Panthers director of community relations. "Panthers fans have a strong history of supporting the team's community outreach efforts, and this is a wonderful opportunity for fans to help give the gift of life."

All donors will receive a Keep Pounding Blood Drive T-shirt and be eligible to win autographed Panthers memorabilia, tickets and pre-game field passes. Stadium tours will be given at 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. to pre-registered donors. Additionally, Panthers team mascot Sir Purr will make special appearances throughout the day.

The blood drive will take place in the TopCats Team Locker Room, located on the stadium's ground level. Donors should enter Bank of America Stadium via Morehead Street and follow directional signs from the Morehead Street parking lot to the blood drive entrance.

"As we are faced with a potential summer blood shortage, we appreciate all that organizations such as the Carolina Panthers are doing to help collect life-saving blood at their annual blood drive," said Martin Grable, president and CEO of Community Blood Center of the Carolinas. "By donating blood at Bank of America Stadium on May 1, the community plays a vital role in supporting our Carolina Panthers and local patients receiving treatment in one of the 21 area hospitals we supply. Together, we "keep pounding' to save local lives."

For every pint of blood that is collected at the blood drive, the Community Blood Center of the Carolinas will make a financial contribution to the Keep Pounding Fund to support cancer research efforts at Carolinas Medical Center.

Additionally, six local charities will participate in the blood drive's inaugural Keep Pounding Community Challenge. The Isabella Santos Foundation, Make-A-Wish of Central and Western North Carolina, Levine Children's Hospital, March Forth with Hope, Zach Ramsey Children's Cancer Fund, and Adam Faulk Tanksley Foundation will compete to register the most donors for the blood drive. The charity with the most participants will receive a charitable donation from Panthers Charities. All participating charities in the community challenge have strong ties to the organization. To support any of these charities, simply register for the drive and mention the charity at check-in on May 1.

Donors who are unable to attend the blood drive on May 1 can still give blood through May 31 at any Community Blood Center of the Carolinas location and receive a Keep Pounding Blood Drive T-shirt. Those wishing to participate in the Keep Pounding Blood Drive after May 1 must pre-register and use sponsor code 51101-011625.